The room was large. The décor dark and expensive. Everything was made of dark wood, silk or marble. Although there had obviously been little expense spared when designing the room, it said little about the secrets the room held.

She was standing in line, she had counted six of them in total. The one at the far end of the line was crying quietly, she found the action and sound strange, almost annoying. She hadn’t cried in years. She wasn’t even sure if she remembered how. The room smelled of stale smoke, sweat, and vulgarity. She resisted the urge to make a repulsed face, the smell making bile rise in . Two men, one of them tall and wiry, his clothes and hair immaculate. He was the one that had brought them into the room. The other was slightly shorter, but much rounder. His large face already shiny and red from sweat from the warm room.

They slowly walked down the length of the line then back up it, the rounder of the two making comments on each of the girls as they went.

“Too old.”

“Too fat.”

“Ugh, a crier.”

They stopped in front of her and she clenched her fists, keeping her gaze locked on the wall just behind the two men as she forced her breathing to remain even. She heard the girls standing beside her hold their breaths, they knew that a decision was about to be reached. The tension in the room was so thick is was almost palpable. “This one.” Said the fatter of the two with a lecherous grin. She grit her teeth as the other man nodded and as if they had been given a silent cue, the other five girls took a step back in unison before turning and silently leaving the room. A couple of them gave her pitying looks, their feelings mixed as they tried to hide their relief at not being chosen and their pity for her and what her immediate future held. She kept her face blank as the others girls left.

The two men discussed money while she stood and waited before a large wad of bills exchanged hands. She took a few deep, steading breaths; it was almost time. Eventually, the tall owner of the establishment left, locking the door behind him, leaving her alone with the man who had just parted with a large sum of money. As soon as the sound of the lock clicking into place sounded throughout the room, he turned to her, a grin on his round face. “Aren’t you a pretty one? The perfect age as well.” He said as he stalked towards her. He reached out and ran a hand over her hair, it was only through sheer force of will that she didn’t move. His fat, meaty hands were sweaty, making her hair damp. It made her feel dirty. He stank of alcohol and sweat.

“Why don’t you come over to the bed, you’ll be more comfortable.” He said as he rested his hands on her shoulders and moved her in the direction of the bed at the end of the room. She followed his instructions, sitting down on the edge of the bed and blinked up at him the perfect picture of innocence... except for her hands which were clenched into fists by her thighs. “Ah, you really are a pretty one.” He said as he his lips, looking down at her, his hands already working on undoing his belt.

Now.

Before he had a chance to fathom what was happening, she had reached up and whipped out the pin that was holding her hair in place, the long strands falling down to frame her face as she adjusted her grip on the pin, the end filled to a lethal point. She pulled herself into a crouch on top of the bed and launched herself off of the bed and jammed the thick pin into his neck all the way until her hand touched his skin. He let out a wet, gurgled scream as he stumbled backwards from the force of her body hitting his. She grunted as she ripped out the pin, his blood spraying all over her as she landed on the ground beside him. She flinched as the warm liquid touched her body, bile once again rising in .

His eyes bulged as he fell to his knees, his hand clutching at his neck in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. She stood over him, her face remaining emotionless as she watched the blood soak into the carpet below her bare feet. He eventually fell forward, his body lifeless as his blood continued to seep outwards from his body. “Vile pig.” She muttered as she picked up the pillow from the bed and pulled off the cover, using it to wipe the blood from her face and hands as best she could. There was little she could do about her bloodstained clothes, but the feeling of blood on her skin made her feel dirty.

Once she had wiped off as much of the blood as she could, she stepped around his body and picked up the small phone that was hidden in the drawer of the desk by the door. She took a deep breath before hitting the speed dial, the call being answered immediately. “It’s done.” She said keeping her back to the body behind her. “Well done. Leave by the planned route, a car is waiting to collect you from the arranged pick up spot.” She ended the call and let out a sigh, it wasn’t the ideal way to spend a tenth birthday, but for her, it was just another day.